From stoma bag conversations to first-person stories, Living360’s partnership with Crohn’s & Colitis UK has been centred around visibility. Here, acting deputy editor Evelyn Richards reflects on the partnership.
Some of the most important conversations are often the ones people feel least comfortable having. That’s why we decided to partner with Crohn’s & Colitis UK.
Over the past few months, Living360 has worked to spotlight the realities of living with inflammatory bowel disease and has spoken to a host of inspiring people along the way. Here are our campaign highlights, plus what you can do to help.
Read more: Adele Roberts on completing seven major marathons with a stoma bag: “I won’t let it change me”
Creating space for honest conversations
Inflammatory bowel disease is widely misunderstood, despite affecting hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. Symptoms are often invisible, conversations can feel uncomfortable and many people living with Crohn’s or Colitis experience stigma alongside the physical realities of the condition. That’s why Living360 centred its campaign on real experiences and first-person storytelling.
One contributor I spoke to described finally receiving her diagnosis as relief mixed with fear, while another reflected on how isolating invisible illness can feel, saying: “You can look completely fine on the outside while struggling massively internally.”
Challenging misconceptions around stoma bags
One of the most impactful moments from the partnership came through my interview with Adele Roberts, who spoke candidly about marathon training and running with a stoma bag.
Adele’s openness challenged longstanding misconceptions around what people with stoma bags are capable of. We also explored the realities of living with a stoma through a deep dive into common myths, using expert commentary to ‘debunk’ misconceptions around exercise, diet and confidence.
View this post on Instagram
Exploring life with Crohn’s and Colitis in your twenties
Some of the most moving content from the campaign came from our first-person features exploring what life is really like as a young woman living with inflammatory bowel disease.
I spoke to two women in their twenties — one living with Crohn’s disease and another with ulcerative Colitis — about navigating flare-ups, fatigue, hospital appointments and social anxiety while balancing careers, friendships and relationships.
One contributor opened up to me honestly about the unpredictability of living with Crohn’s, explaining: “You become hyper-aware of where every toilet is.”
Their stories highlighted the emotional complexity of living with chronic illness, but they also spoke powerfully about resilience and rebuilding confidence after diagnosis.
Fitness, recovery and marathon preparation
Movement and recovery also became an important part of the wider conversation.
Alongside awareness-focused features, Living360 explored marathon recovery through expert-led advice on nutrition, stretching, hormones and recovery products, while also sharing practical training insights for runners.
View this post on Instagram
Read more: Does your run need a digital detox? How Strava and RunTok are ruining running
Running the Edinburgh Marathon for Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Taking on the Edinburgh Marathon was one of the toughest physical challenges I’ve ever done.
The conditions on the day were far harder than expected, with temperatures reaching around 23C and long stretches of exposed heat throughout the route. Combined with the relentless pavement underfoot, my joints started hurting much earlier than I’d anticipated.
There were definitely moments where the heat, discomfort and exhaustion felt overwhelming.
But every time I hit a difficult patch, I reminded myself what I was running for.
Over the course of this partnership, I’d spent months hearing stories from people living with Crohn’s and colitis — people managing pain, fatigue and uncertainty in ways most others never see. Thinking about those conversations helped me dig deep mentally when the race became physically difficult.
Crossing the finish line felt incredibly emotional, not just because of the marathon itself, but because of everything it represented.
Knowing we had raised nearly £1,000 for Crohn’s & Colitis UK made every difficult mile worthwhile.
Looking beyond the finish line
Crossing the finish line in Edinburgh felt like a significant milestone, but it also felt like a reminder of why this campaign mattered in the first place.
Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of hearing from people living with Crohn’s and Colitis whose experiences challenged misconceptions, highlighted gaps in understanding and demonstrated extraordinary resilience. Those stories don’t end with a marathon medal.
Crohn’s & Colitis UK continues to provide support, information and advocacy for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by inflammatory bowel disease across the UK, while funding research into better treatments and care.
If you’d like to learn more, support future fundraising efforts or access resources about Crohn’s and Colitis, visit the charity’s website.
And if you’d like to give running for a charity a go, then there are plenty of 5km, 10km, half marathon and full marathon races you can sign up to in 2026 and 2027.
Feature image: Canva
